Pelton started working at Cessna in 2000. In 2003, he became president and CEO; in 2005, he was named chairman, Textron said. A search for a successor is under way, but until one is selected, Textron Chairman and CEO Scott C. Donnelly will run Cessna, the company said.

“Jack Pelton has been an exceptional leader for and friend to the entire general aviation community,” AOPA President Craig Fuller said. “I am certain that he will continue to be a powerful advocate for GA and look forward to future opportunities to work together.”

Pelton supported AOPA’s “Rally GA” campaign, writing in the January 2010 turbine edition of AOPA Pilot, “General aviation must defend its role in the transportation system and the world’s economy, it must catch up with innovations in technology, and it must grow by solving the problem of the dwindling pilot population, for example. In all three areas it’s important that we unite as a community and work well with others, from the airlines to federal agencies to elected officials on every level.”

"Under Jack's leadership, Cessna achieved many significant program and product milestones and strengthened its position as a thought leader in the aviation industry,” Donnelly said in a press release. “We appreciate Jack's efforts and wish him the best in his future endeavors."

General aviation aircraft manufacturers were hit hard by the recession, and Cessna was no different; Cessna slowed production and went through several rounds of layoffs in 2009 and 2010 as customers canceled and deferred orders. The company also faced growing competition from Embraer, whose successes in the business jet market have sometimes come at the expense of Cessna’s Mustang and smaller Citation CJ products. Donnelly said in January that Cessna is focusing research on the mid-size jet market because of competition from the Brazilian company. Textron predicted improvement in sales for 2011, but Cessna recently reported an operating loss for the first quarter.